Hydraulic hinge, in particular concealed hinge for doors

Abstract

A hinge for the controlled rotatable movement of a closing element, such as a door, a door leaf or the like, anchored to a stationary support structure, such as a wall, a floor, a frame or the like. The hinge comprises a hinge body and a pivot defining a first axis reciprocally coupled to allow the closing element to rotate between an open position and a closed position. The hinge further comprises a working chamber defining a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis and a plunger element sliding within the working chamber along the second axis between a position proximal to the bottom wall of the working chamber and a position distal therefrom. The pivot includes a pinion member, whereas the plunger element includes a rack member engaged with the pinion member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hinge comprising:
 a hinge body adapted to be anchored to one of a stationary support structure or a closing element and a pivot defining a first axis adapted to be anchored to the other one of the stationary support structure or the closing element, the pivot and the hinge body being reciprocally coupled to allow the closing element to rotate between an open position and a closed position; 
 a working chamber within the hinge body defining a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the working chamber including a bottom wall; 
 a plunger element sliding within the working chamber along the second axis between a position proximal to the bottom wall of the working chamber and a position distal from the bottom wall, the plunger element comprising a cylindrical body; 
 wherein the working chamber further includes a working fluid acting on the plunger element for hydraulically damping the action thereof, the cylindrical body being inserted into the working chamber for dividing thereof in a first variable volume compartment and a second variable volume compartment in fluidic communication to each other; 
 wherein the pivot includes a pinion member including a plurality of first shaped teeth, the plunger element including a rack member comprising a plurality of second countershaped teeth; 
 wherein the first shaped teeth of the pinion member and the second countershaped teeth of the rack member are operatively coupled each other so that the rotation of the pivot around the first axis corresponds to the sliding of the plunger element along the second axis between the proximal position and the distal position; 
 wherein the pivot includes an end connecting portion adapted to be fixed to the other one of the stationary support structure and the closing element and a central operating portion comprising the pinion member, the first shaped teeth being distributed along the whole circumferential periphery of the operating portion; 
 wherein the plunger element further includes an elongated element unitary with the cylindrical body, the elongated element extending parallel to the second axis, the elongated element including the second countershaped teeth to define the rack member; 
 wherein the operating portion of the pivot lays along the second axis, the elongated element defining a third axis parallel to the second axis and offset therefrom. 
 
     
     
       2. The hinge according to  claim 1 , wherein the pinion member and the rack member are mutually configured so as to allow the pivot or the working chamber to rotate for at least 180°. 
     
     
       3. The hinge according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical body includes a first passage to allow the passage of the working fluid between the first variable volume compartment and the second variable volume compartment upon one of the opening or closing of the closing element, a circuit being provided within the hinge body for the passage of the working fluid between the first variable volume compartment and the second variable volume compartment upon the other of the opening or closing of the closing element. 
     
     
       4. The hinge according to  claim 3 , wherein the cylindrical body further includes a valve member interacting with the first passage to selectively allow the passage of the working fluid through the first passage upon one of the closing or opening of the closing element, the valve member being adapted to prevent the passage of the working fluid through the first passage upon the other one of the closing or opening of the closing element in order to force the passage of the working fluid through the circuit. 
     
     
       5. The hinge according to  claim 4 , wherein the valve member comprise a non-return valve element interacting with the first passage to allow the passage of the working fluid from the first variable volume compartment to the second variable volume compartment during the opening of the closing element and to prevent backflow of the working fluid during the closing of the closing element. 
     
     
       6. The hinge according to  claim 3 , wherein the circuit includes an adjusting screw inserted through the hinge body, the adjusting screw comprising a first upper threaded end screwed in a corresponding first upper counterthreaded connecting portion of the hinge body and a second lower end slidably inserted in a corresponding second lower guide portion of the hinge body. 
     
     
       7. The hinge according to  claim 6 , wherein the second lower end includes a hollow seat housing a substantially frustoconical element coaxially inserted therein, the adjusting screw including a first opening for the inlet or the outlet of the working fluid, the inner surface of the hollow seat facing the outer surface of the substantially frustoconical element to define an interspace therebetween which is fluidically connected to the first opening for the inlet or the outlet of the working fluid and to the circuit, the interspace being interposed therebetween. 
     
     
       8. The hinge according to  claim 7 , wherein the hollow seat has a substantially cylindrical shape, the substantially frustoconical element having the smaller diameter end faced to the first opening for the inlet or the outlet of the working fluid so that the unscrewing or the screwing of the first upper end of the adjusting screw from or in the first upper connecting portion of the hinge body corresponds to the mutual distancing or approaching of the substantially frustoconical element and the adjusting screw, so as to define an adjusting valve for adjusting the passage of the working fluid. 
     
     
       9. The hinge according to  claim 8 , wherein the adjusting screw includes a curved concave outer surface located between the first upper threaded end and the second lower end adapted to engage the curved convex outer surface of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
       10. The hinge according to  claim 1 , wherein the first variable volume compartment and the second variable volume compartment are configured to have in correspondence with the closed position of the closing element respectively the maximum volume and the minimum volume, the plunger element including a elastic counteracting member into the first variable volume compartment. 
     
     
       11. A hydraulic check hinge comprising:
 a hinge body adapted to be anchored to one of a stationary support structure or a closing element and a pivot defining a first axis adapted to be anchored to the other one of the stationary support structure or the closing element, the pivot and the hinge body being reciprocally coupled to allow the closing element to rotate between an open position and a closed position; 
 
       a working chamber within the hinge body defining a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the working chamber including a bottom wall; 
       a plunger element sliding within the working chamber along the second axis between a position proximal to the bottom wall of the working chamber and a position distal from the bottom wall, the plunger element comprising a cylindrical body; 
       wherein the pivot includes a pinion member including a plurality of first shaped teeth, the plunger element including a rack member comprising a plurality of second countershaped teeth; 
       wherein the first shaped teeth of the pinion member and the second countershaped teeth of the rack member are operatively coupled each other so that the rotation of the pivot around the first axis corresponds to the sliding of the plunger element along the second axis between the proximal position and the distal position; 
       wherein the pivot includes an end connecting portion adapted to be fixed to the other one of the stationary support structure and the closing element and a central operating portion comprising the pinion member; 
       wherein the plunger element further includes an elongated element unitary with the cylindrical body, the elongated element extending parallel to the second axis, the elongated element including the second countershaped teeth to define the rack member; 
       wherein the operating portion of the pivot lays along the second axis, the elongated element defining a third axis parallel to the second axis and offset therefrom; 
       wherein the working chamber is free of counteracting elastic means, the working chamber further including a working fluid acting on the plunger element for hydraulically damping the action thereof, the cylindrical body being inserted into the working chamber for dividing thereof in a first variable volume compartment and a second variable volume compartment in fluidic communication to each other; 
       wherein the cylindrical body includes a first passage to allow the passage of the working fluid between the first variable volume compartment and the second variable volume compartment upon the opening of the closing element, a damping circuit being provided within the hinge body for the passage of the working fluid between the first variable volume compartment and the second variable volume compartment upon the closing of the closing element. 
     
     
       12. The hinge according to  claim 11 , wherein the working chamber includes a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface, the plunger element being in contact with the first abutment surface when the closing element is in the closed position, the plunger element being in contact with the second abutment surface when the closing element is in the open position. 
     
     
       13. The hinge according to  claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical body further includes a valve member interacting with the first passage to selectively allow the passage of the working fluid through the first passage upon one of the closing or opening of the closing element, the valve member being adapted to prevent the passage of the working fluid through the first passage upon the other one of the closing or opening of the closing element in order to force the passage of the working fluid through the circuit. 
     
     
       14. The hinge according to  claim 13 , wherein the valve member comprise a non-return valve element interacting with the first passage to allow the passage of the working fluid from the first variable volume compartment to the second variable volume compartment during the opening of the closing element and to prevent backflow of the working fluid during the closing of the closing element. 
     
     
       15. The hinge according to  claim 11 , wherein the circuit includes an adjusting screw inserted through the hinge body, the adjusting screw comprising a first upper threaded end screwed in a corresponding first upper counterthreaded connecting portion of the hinge body and a second lower end slidably inserted in a corresponding second lower guide portion of the hinge body. 
     
     
       16. The hinge according to  claim 15 , wherein the second lower end includes a hollow seat housing a substantially frustoconical element coaxially inserted therein, the adjusting screw including a first opening for the inlet or the outlet of the working fluid, the inner surface of the hollow seat facing the outer surface of the substantially frustoconical element to define an interspace therebetween which is fluidically connected to the first opening for the inlet or the outlet of the working fluid and to the circuit, the interspace being interposed therebetween. 
     
     
       17. The hinge according to  claim 16 , wherein the hollow seat has a substantially cylindrical shape, the substantially frustoconical element having the smaller diameter end faced to the first opening for the inlet or the outlet of the working fluid so that the unscrewing or the screwing of the first upper end of the adjusting screw from or in the first upper connecting portion of the hinge body corresponds to the mutual distancing or approaching of the substantially frustoconical element and the adjusting screw, so as to define an adjusting valve for adjusting the passage of the working fluid. 
     
     
       18. The hinge according to  claim 17 , wherein the first variable volume compartment and the second variable volume compartment are configured to have in correspondence with the closed position of the closing element respectively the maximum volume and the minimum volume. 
     
     
       19. A hydraulic check hinge comprising:
 a hinge body adapted to be anchored to one of a stationary support structure or a closing element and a pivot defining a first axis adapted to be anchored to the other one of the stationary support structure or the closing element, the pivot and the hinge body being reciprocally coupled to allow the closing element to rotate between an open position and a closed position; 
 a working chamber within the hinge body defining a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, the working chamber including a bottom wall; 
 a plunger element sliding within the working chamber along the second axis between a position proximal to the bottom wall of the working chamber and a position distal from the bottom wall, the plunger element comprising a cylindrical body; 
 wherein the pivot includes a pinion member including a plurality of first shaped teeth, the plunger element including a rack member comprising a plurality of second countershaped teeth; 
 wherein the first shaped teeth of the pinion member and the second countershaped teeth of the rack member are operatively coupled each other so that the rotation of the pivot around the first axis corresponds to the sliding of the plunger element along the second axis between the proximal position and the distal position; 
 wherein the pivot includes an end connecting portion adapted to be fixed to the other one of the stationary support structure and the closing element and a central operating portion comprising the pinion member; 
 wherein the plunger element further includes an elongated element unitary with the cylindrical body, the elongated element extending parallel to the second axis, the elongated element including the second countershaped teeth to define the rack member; 
 wherein the operating portion of the pivot lays along the second axis, the elongated element defining a third axis parallel to the second axis and offset therefrom; 
 wherein the hinge includes a restoring elastic counteracting member, the working chamber further including a working fluid acting on the plunger element for hydraulically damping the action thereof, the cylindrical body being inserted into the working chamber for dividing thereof in a first variable volume compartment and a second variable volume compartment in fluidic communication to each other; 
 wherein the cylindrical body includes a first passage to allow the passage of the working fluid between the first variable volume compartment and the second variable volume compartment upon the opening of the closing element, a damping circuit being provided within the hinge body for the passage of the working fluid between the first variable volume compartment and the second variable volume compartment upon the closing of the closing element. 
 
     
     
       20. The hinge according to  claim 19 , wherein the working chamber includes a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface, the plunger element being in contact with the first abutment surface when the closing element is in the closed position, the plunger element being in contact with the second abutment surface when the closing element is in the open position.